I might look for an area rug to go over the carpet and give you a color scheme? Or is the rug too deep for that?

What has grabbed my eye is the paintings. They are beautiful and have a richness and sophistication to them that I think would be great to play off of, along with the glass table which goes perfectly with them.

What if you were to take the horizontal painting and takit out of that frame, but keep the matte, and put it in the open white area of the FP, paint the two ends a brown to go with the painting, cover the entire area with glass, and then frame the entire with a thing gold frame of some kind. Then put the vertical painting hanging centered over the FP?

Change the aqua out for a chocolate brown or a deep cranberry.

Follow through with accents of cranberry, olive, gold, brown.

Maybe a white Flokati rug under the cocktail table in front of the sofa?

jlc712, you're right. I hadn't thought about the cream mat clashing with the white trim--I was thinking about it not looking good with the gray.

MtnRdRedux, I have thought about adding a rug on top of the carpet. It has a medium pile, so it's kinda borderline.

tibbrix, do you have a photo example of a painting in the open area of the FP with the glass etc.? I'm too visual to catch it, I'm afraid. I have a beautiful
pre-1800 painting that I wish I could display above the mantel, but it's
too small. I would need other things on the mantel, and I'm too
decor-challenged to figure that out!

I thought of it because my parents actually had an artist come in and do a painting in that section of their FP, and it looks fantastic. I can't find any pics of anything like it! I'm surprised.

LOL, palimpsest, you're good at photo editing in a hurry! I haven't quite figured out the best colors for the sofa. Light natural or off-white looks okay....not sure about the aqua. By the way, I literally painted that bookcase 15 times! I'm not exaggerating. I had to undercoat twice and put three coats of paint each time I changed my mind. Cranberry might work, but I tried two ruby red colors that had too much of a pinky or bluish cast. It didn't look good with the stuff in the bookcase. I've been afraid to experiment with a brighter red.

I think you want a cranberry that is more on the brown side than the blue side.

Something like this:

Maybe Palimpsest can "move" the horizontal painting onto the FP frieze?

The painting--even without the frame--wouldn't fit in that space contained by the panel trim, unless you mean to set it on top?

No, I meant the frieze. If not that painting, then something. I think filling in that frieze with a painting in the genre of the three paintings you've shown us would be wonderful.

I like the aqua. Follow the above suggestions and go shopping for a rug or a print fabric for chairs that has colors you like. Orange or gold should go well with the aqua. I like all the pictures.

The Aqua bookcase is bright and cheerful. I say no to either painting. They seem so incongruous with the color on the bookcase. Get something that coordinates with the fun Aqua color. I'd also paint the brass fireplace doors black,

I like what Pal posted. The aqua adds a bit of freshness (plus you have it already), and everything else in the room keeps it from being too House-of-Turquoise-trendy. Especially in a warm climate I would not want to go all autumnal.

I think the (lovely) paintings, like fine oriental rugs, always work pretty much anywhere. I don't think they need to drive your color scheme.

Thank you all for your advice! I do need to do something with that fireplace screen. It has gotten discolored. Not sure about painting it black, though?

Black may make too big of an impact, and there is no other black in the room. In the photo it looks fine; maybe you could have it replated?

I think putting an oil under glass would take away from the texture. That's a beautiful work of art and it can stand on it's own. The people here could help you with your mantle decor if you choose to go the way of Pal.

Love your paintings! Are they vintage? I used a great red, sort of a cranberry/rust, not bright in the slightest~Ralph Lauren Balmoral Red. It could probably be mixed in any paint brand at HD if they have kept the formulation. I don't know if there are free-standing RL stores to purchase the paint.

As for a rug, I would consider one w/black background, playing off the picture. Food for thought:paint the back of the cabinet black to add some drama to the room. It's personal taste, but I'm not 'into' bright colors like aqua/turquoise, and find using black touches adds an element of sophistication. Save the color for pillows, etc.

Patty, the small one--what I call the cow painting was done sometime before 1805 where it showed up in a famous Parisian art studio. The dark one of the old man may also be that old. It was sold to a cousin who was stationed in Germany after WWII when the Germans were selling off fine paintings to raise money. It's actually painted on a wood panel. The tree painting was done by my aunt who was paralyzed in a car wreck in 1926. These paintings all have stories! That's one reason why I would like to display them.

I'm also thinking about a rug with a black background. I will check out Balmoral red. Thanks!

I think that if you are trying to warm up the gray, then I would paint the inside of the cab a deep brown, black or something warm in color. I recently painted my living room brainstorm bronze. It is a deeper soothing receding color.

I think a rug with some gray along with warm toned colors would look great!

I would use the rug to choose colors for pillows.

I love your paintings! It is tough as neither is large enough to fit the scale of your fireplace. Any change you can reframe one of them to make it larger? Maybe a large matt and a thicker frame? I am not sure if the frames are also vintage and need to stay with the art. I would totally understand that.

I agree with artillery. I really like the aqua, but more for a kitchen or a bathroom, children's room…because I just don't think it suits the style of LR you have, esp. with those paintings. The aqua is lighter, more beachy and casual, while those paintings of yours are so wonderfully elegant and rich in color, along with your cocktail table. The Brainstorm Bronze would be wonderful with all the gold accent you've already got in that room.

I'd paint the back of the bookcase black as well as the fire place screen and add other black accents in the room. I don't think you need any more shades of brown/bronze in the room. Nice thing about black is that it's neutral and goes well with warm and cool colors. It would also add a dramatic flare to the room.